Hello fellow Grey Nomads. Let me introduce myself: My name is Philip Middleton, I'm actually a Pom but I was brought over to Australia at 18 months old, educated and lived in Australia ever since. So I kinda consider myself an Ozzie. Never left Australia (never felt the need). Not sure I really qualify as a Gray Nomad as I'm not gray (well, not quite yet), but Ive settled down a bit so I figure the description is more a state of mind than hair colour (or lack thereof).
Among other things, Ive been an avid 4WDer most of my life, but I have been out of the habit/hobby for about 15 years now. I havent travelled around much and what little I have has been mainly in the North of Western Australia, with holidays to Shark Bay, Coral Bay and up as far as Karratha a few times. I did some sightseeing in NSW and Qld about 20 years ago, but in a hire Winnebago, not my own 4WD, so no off-road - except where the fledgling GPS maps systems of the day led me astray, but that's another story.
Things have changed recently and Ive kinda semi-retired. Thats another Long story maybe for another time.
So, very recently (last week) I went out and got myself my dream 4WD (ex ADF U1700L Unimog). I would have loved a 6x6 version, but they seem really hard to get hold of, and then even harder to get without paying an arm, a leg and a testicle. :)
Im 57, Single, no kids and want to tour Australia once I have built up the Unimog into a camper. The one I have purchased is a stock as stock while being made road legal for Western Australia. U1700L single cab.
My Interests: Going to remote and challenging spots, usually requiring a capable 4WD. Camping (but roughing it is getting a bit old now). Diving (just havn't done any for 15 or more years). Fishing. Just being in the outback.
My plans for the Unimog are: 1. A good Winch I dont like the idea of being probably the biggest vehicle around and unable to effect self-recovery when on-one else around is likely to be able to tow/snatch me out. The Unimog currently sits at about 7,000Kg and will be closer to 9-10,000Kg with camper, winches, bar work etc when finished. 2. Good CB This is where you guys may be able to help. More on that shortly. 3. Tires. The standard ADF tires are military spec and while great for a war zone, provide a very hard ride and dont work too well in sand and mud due to the rigid sidewalls. I'm going going for Taller, Wider and Softer tires. Tires and rims are currently on the way. BKT 395/85R20 on Hutchinson beadlock rims. Wallet will be squealing for a while from that one. 4. Build pop-top camper for tray, with 4 actuators so I can lift it off the back of the truck, drive away and put it on the ground. Later come back and lift it back up, put it back on the truck. Sounds good in theory at this point. I will be doing most of the work myself but no doubt I will outsource some of it. The usual things: Lights, insulation, AC, heating, paint, radio, Kitchen, Washing, Bedding, toilet, shower, Solar, Poptop etc. Basically a removable self contained living pod.
Then get out there and tour our great continent before its all closed away behind locked gates and bureaucracy.
CB Advice please: Ive had many CBs in the past (usually higher power but cheaper ones). They have been hard to understand and more often than I like to admit, they have had me question my hearing because Ive not always been able to understand much of what people have said. For those of you who travel in convoys: Whats a good well featured CB thats CLEAR and typically easy to understand whats said? Im not so worried about range. As I understand it, range is more a function of the choice of the Antenna (high gain for plains and low gain for hilly areas). Any comments or recommendations for brands and models of CB? I do like bells and whistles but clarity of reception is most important.
I do prefer travelling with others, but I'm going to be slower than most, even those with large caravans. My top speed currently is 80km/h. That will be improved on, but tops will probably be 100km/h. Much faster in a Unimog could spell disaster.
Anyway, if there is interest in my Rig, I'll post progress pics as I progress with the build.
I will be open to Day, weekend and week long trips as I go, so hope to see you guys out there and maybe in convoy.
Welcome to the Forum Phillip.
Your choice of a truck is game to say the least. Heavy, tall, unstable, fuel guzzler, even the Army had trouble keeping shiny side up.
From memory; There is another member that built a MH on one, although he made the house able to be removed using the Mog's Hydraulics.
I tried the search function but was unable to locate the rig, Perhaps another member may remember the unit which was in "show us your rig" section.
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Possum; AKA:- Ali El-Aziz Mohamed Gundawiathan
Sent from my imperial66 typewriter using carrier pigeon, message sticks and smoke signals.
We bought a 1300L 22 years ago. Started driving it home to Adelaide from Sydney and it broke down. The very generous seller gave us our cheque back and we subsequently bought the OKA we still have. In hindsight The Unimog would have been too big to go where we like to go and too expensive to maintain for us. Pity because their offroad capability is spectacularly good. Good luck with yours. Look after it and maintain it well.
Re UHF radios. I reckon the brand name units are all good. I have a Uniden. I particularly like having all the controls on the mic. I also use the little rubber zero gain antennas. They give good, clear short range (several kms +) reception and transmission and are near unbreakable. I have no wish to hear every traveler for a 40km radius. I also carry a long high gain antenna for emergencies, but have never fitted it in anger.
Where the antenna is mounted is critical for optimum performance.
Cheers,
Peter
-- Edited by Peter_n_Margaret on Saturday 7th of December 2024 02:56:07 PM
Thanks Peter. Your U1300 broke down just driving it home? That was unfortunate. Ex ADF Mogs often have fuel issues (dirty fuel, old tanks, etc) but... What broke? I have a mate who purchased an OKA, and he laughed at me when I purchased the Mog. He will probably continue to laugh at me whenever we go through tight overhanging tracks, but so far I have been able to keep pushing through and I think I might get the last laugh at some stage even if only due to ground clearance. Time will tell. He purchased his OKA new, so he worries more about paint than I do. Camo is a wonderful thing. A wash and light application of 3 spray packs and your done touching up the paintwork! lol. Having said that, I haven't actually done that yet. So far. the ADF paintwork has not scratched yet. Yet. Only a matter of time I guess.
Antenna placement, thinking or centre or near center of roof - good ground plane base and high up - very high up on my rig :) . Sounds like a good idea to have a high gain in reserve - plus I can see that I will be trailing probably up to many Km's behind any group when on the open road. High gain might be the go for convoys for me.
The Mog is still very new to me, so I'm still getting used to driving it. Still getting used to its general size. Damn their BIG. L8r m8. Philip.
-- Edited by Raptor on Sunday 8th of December 2024 02:31:59 AM
Heavy, tall, unstable, fuel guzzler, even the Army had trouble keeping shiny side up.
Except the unstable bit. Wide stance, high but able to tilt more than most before going over.
If the ADF drivers were tipping them over, then it's because they dont own it. They must have been driving like they stole it, or maybe like they rented it. In the short time I have had it so far, I have already had it on some silly angles and it has not even thought about going over. And I'm about to change tyres from 12" to 16" wide (300 to 395) and the stock rims from I think 9" to 11" with a wider (further out) offset. That will add more to the width than overall height. Yeah, that means I'm going to have to look closer at the side of narrow tracks I go down, but years of 4WDing in my past have trained me to look for roots and rocks on the side of tracks and be very aware of tire placement, so I should be good. When you see something is there, you can avoid it.
Also my living quarters are going to be self removable, plus I keep all weight down low as a matter of course. Nothing heavy up high, like wheels, tanks, batteries, etc. Heaviest things up high will be barwork, solar and maybe a roof mounted flat AC unit on the cab and the camper but they dont weight much. Also the camper pod will be a pop-top and so at the same level for travel as the cab.
So, Heavy, Tall and a Diesel Hog I can handle. I will add to that list Slow (even with speed upgrades I intend to fit). But unstable? Only if I have a blowout on the front traveling at speeds I dont really intend to do (like over 100km/h). Incidentally that's also why I'm not staying with the 11-13 year old tires that typically come on an ex ADF Mog. Tyres I'm getting were manufactured this year (2024).
Anyway, your concerns are noted and accepted, but with one rejected and one added. :)
-- Edited by Raptor on Sunday 8th of December 2024 02:30:50 AM
-- Edited by Raptor on Sunday 8th of December 2024 02:53:52 AM
Ah. Yes. Makes sense. So, its not just ex ADF older Unimogs that have fuel issues. Come to think of it, its really all old diesel trucks - probably the determining factor is lack or intermittent use coupled with age and bad fuel.
Thanks for the clarification. Philip.
-- Edited by Raptor on Sunday 8th of December 2024 10:38:53 AM
G'day Phil,
Welcome to a very helpful forum.
I don't consider myself to be a "Nomad" as mainly we mainly travel from A-B-C in short periods of time. Age wise, yes, I fall into the category. However being bird watchers, we often do bypasses to visit hotspots to see a bird or birds for our annual or life lists.
Having our offspring living in the cooler south means we get down there once a year or so but going the same way becomes a bit of a drag, but driving in the heat isn't much chop either - if it's hot, then our first route is down the coast on the dreaded Bruce Highway to Gin Gin.
Regarding UHF CBs, I have a Uniden but GME is an excellent choice too. I use a set of Oricom hand helds when away from the car. Personally I think every car that travels on Aussie roads should have something to communicate with truckies to let them know your intentions. They (truckies) are good at broadcasting the whereabouts of radar traps, accidents too.
There is an interesting spot just north of Townsville - the Bluewater Range. The road is a bit rugged further up so it's slow travel in an ordinary 4WD. We were up there a couple of years ago having smoko near Keelbottom Ck when we heard a racket approaching. It was a RAAF Unimog going quite fast! With the larger tyres, it was going over the ditches without too much obvious discomfort to the driver.
We've seen a private Mog on some birding trips around the area so you're not alone. The running costs would put most people off.
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Warren
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If you don't get it done today, there's always tomorrow!
